THIS is What You NEED to Know About Phishing Emails in 2021
Worried that someone will steal your data?
Or just want to be aware about the increasing number of phishing sites?
Either way, give this one a read to know ’em all!
Worried that someone will steal your data?
Or just want to be aware about the increasing number of phishing sites?
Either way, give this one a read to know ’em all!
Phishing is how scammers steal a victim’s personal information to access their identity and bank accounts. This can happen in multiple ways and requires caution in any digital sharing or receiving of information, which is now the new normal in our day-to-day lives. If you need guidance on ensuring that you’re not a victim of phishing through a website, check out this blog onTelepathz.
Phishing is considered to be the most successful and dangerous of all cyber-attacks. Each day, there are 6.4 billion emails that are sent and received daily. This is one of the reasons why phishing emails are in plenty. The chances of a victim falling prey to these attacks is relatively high. Research also shows that 91% of all cyber-attacks start with a phishing email. These emails usually contain links to websites that the victim may usually use.
Most of the spam emails we receive are identified by email servers and directed into a separate spam folder. However, a few of these spam emails make it into our mailbox. These are usually harder to discern as spam. These typically look legitimate and have all the information that we would expect from an actual business or company and may also look similar to past emails that we have received.
Sometimes these emails could even look like they’re from your bank, insurance company, or even the hospital or clinic you visited for a regular health check-up. These emails usually ask you to click on a link included in the email body to verify your identity to access your account or ensure that all your details are up to date.
Phishing emails can be very subtle. However, these emails usually look like the real deal. Most times, you might not even think twice before clicking on the link provided. The information you provide could then allow scammers to steal money from your bank accounts, make fraudulent purchases with your credit cards, or even take out loans in your name.
Today’s phishing emails don’t follow the stereotypical phishing emails that may come to mind when we hear the words ‘phishing’ or ‘scam.’ It is becoming increasingly difficult to identify the actual email from the phishing email. But most of the phishing emails do have telltale signs. Here are a few phishing email examples to help you identify a fake from the genuine emails cluttering your mailbox daily.
This is a tried and tested method for scammers to gain your sensitive information by posing as a company that you would trust. Scammers would usually send an unsolicited email from a company or business that provides a link or attachment in the email body that requires you to update or enter your sensitive information. However, almost all firms or companies will not send you an email asking for your passwords, credit card information, tax numbers, or even credit scores, and they will not send you a link that would require you to log in.
These types of phishing emails usually use generic language in the way they would address their victim. For example, it could typically include “Dear valued customer,” “Dear account holder,” or “Dear customer.” If a company or business you deal with would require information regarding your account, the email sent to you would specifically include your name. The company or industry may also direct you to contact them via their telephone number provided. Scammers would also avoid any salutation at the email’s start, which is usually done in an advertisement.
While checking the person’s name sending you the email, checking their email address is also crucial. You can do this by hovering your mouse over the ‘from’ address. You can then make sure that no other numbers or letters are added to or removed from it. An example of a phishing email could be ‘[email protected]’, compared to ‘[email protected].’ It’s essential to keep in mind that this isn’t a foolproof method. Some companies do make use of unique or varied domains to send emails. Some smaller companies may even use third-party email providers.
This is possibly one of the easiest ways to identify a phishing email. An email you may receive from a legitimate company or business should be well written. Scammers generally aren’t stupid. But they prey on uneducated and unassuming victims who may not typically be as observant, making them easy targets.
In most cases, phishing emails are coded entirely as a hyperlink. This would mean that accidentally or intentionally clicking anywhere in the email would directly take you to a fake website or even download spam onto your computer.
Unsolicited emails are the typical calling card of a phishing attack. Usually, legitimate companies or businesses won’t randomly send you emails containing attachments. These companies or enterprises will instead direct you to their website to download any required documents or files.
Again, it’s important to remember that this method isn’t always foolproof either. There are instances when companies or businesses that already have your email will send you information, such as a white paper, that may require a download. In this case, be on the lookout for high-risk attachment file types that include .exe, .scr, and .zip. If you are ever in doubt, you can always contact the company or business directly using the contact information that you find on their website.
It is always important to check the URL because although the link says one thing, it may lead you to another place. If the link in the text isn’t identical to the URL displayed when you hover the cursor over the link, this is a definite sign that you’ll be taken to a site you wouldn’t want to visit. You can ensure additional security by hovering your mouse over any embedded links (without clicking them!) and make sure that the link begins with ‘https://’ or ‘shttp://.’ The ending of a website address could even be changed from ‘.co.uk to ‘.org’ for instance, so that users won’t suspect any significant change (you can find out more on phishing attacks through websites through this blog on Telepathz)
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